Tell us about your tour vehicle.
I share a tour vehicle with my wife, Brit Taylor — a 2006 Ford E350 XLT passenger van. A band I used to be in had the same model in that classic highway-line white. It was the best tour vehicle I’d ever ridden in (well, maybe not counting a Prevost night coach…). We drove that thing coast to coast with just minor repairs. The extra-long cabin and the big back bench made it a road dog’s dream.
When it came time for us to find our own touring van, I never imagined I’d find an Econoline Ford that wasn’t already driven to hell and back. But lo and behold, the Facebook Marketplace gods shined their Meta-light on one down in Jasper, Alabama — under 40K miles, church-owned, and in near-pristine shape. We drove down from Tennessee with an envelope full of cash, and right outside the Arby’s in Jasper, the “Church Bus” became ours.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
I usually start the day with whatever cup of coffee the hotel lobby has, then hunt for a better one — that’s often my breakfast. I do enjoy breakfast food for lunch however and a good local diner is hard to pass up for egg related items. In terms of being healthy in general on the road, I try to stick to ordering the salad… but I might sneak a french fry. With all the sitting between gigs, I make it a point to walk as much as I can before the show. It’s the post-show beers and pizza you gotta watch out for — but man, that combo hits the spot no matter how the crowd was.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I ain’t one for new strings. I hate changing them, I hate how bright they sound when you put on a fresh pack and I hate how long it takes from them to stay in tune. I’ve got a great luthier who keeps everything so in check I hardly ever break a string. I change upright strings every couple years probably and guitar strings when they won’t stay in tune again or feel so gross I simply cannot carry on. I’ve been fortunate the fine folks at D’addario and Planet Waves have taken such good care of me over the years.
Where do you rehearse?
These days I try to rehearse wherever makes the most sense for everyone. A good friend who is also a songwriter lives close by in the country with an incredible studio/barn rehearsal space that he’s kind enough to let us rehearse in. From the outside, it looks like a big red tractor barn, but inside it’s a funky, Bohemian, country-cosmopolitan haven. There’s art and photos collaged on the walls, vintage gear scattered around, and it feels more like a vibey living room that just happens to be mic’d up and ready to go.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
The first song I considered a “real” one back in middle school was called “Much More.” The hook went, “I can be everything and much more.” Reckon I was feelin’ myself a bit, spittin’ lines like that.
Describe your first gig.
The first time I sang in front of people — outside of family — was at the Louisa Freewill Baptist Church. Not sure if that counts as a gig or more like Southern gospel worship. Later on, a great little coffee shop opened up in my hometown. They’d let folks like me and Tyler Childers play in the corner or out on the sidewalk. That felt like the real beginning.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
My wife runs a cleaning company, and I help out when needed — so there is definitely some floor mopping in my future. My first job was at a grocery store when I was 15, but by the end of high school, I had a dream gig running the concession stand and admissions at the lake beach in our state park. It was county-operated and super chill. Most weekends, there were maybe 50 people out there. I’d sit on a bench with my lifeguard buddies, play guitar, read books, eat hot dogs, and watch the water. I would’ve done that job forever.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
Everything else keeps getting more expensive, but it feels like musician wages have stayed the same. I’ve never been in it for the money — it’s always felt like a calling. There are a million ways to make a buck, and music might be option #999,998. I’m grateful to support myself and my family doing what I love. I just hope I can keep doing it.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
Patience. One step isn’t always as big as you think it’ll be, but it might be the one that gives you the ledge for the leap that is. I learned that lesson pretty quick, thankfully. It’s about getting it all a little bit at a time so you can enjoy every moment of the ride.